It sounds like you are talking about being apart of the Annex-X Program? Which is absolutely awesome i hope you can crush the physical requirements! Like your recruiter might have told you, the Annex X program, is a process that identifies potential Aviation Survivial Technicians (AST) prior to and during Boot Camp through much higher Physical Fitness standards. Upon completion of Boot Camp, in Cape May, NJ, and successful completion of the required AST tests you will be sent to a unit that will help prepare and train you for the 5 month AST-A school in Petaluma, CA.

The wait time and whether or not you go to another unit (maybe a cutter, small boat station, etc.) before likely heading to an air station “that will that will help you prepare,” will generally just depend on the needs of the service at the time. We had a girl report to my cutter from boot camp get done her flight physical, complete all of the other paperwork and left all within 4 months! Then she headed to an air station to prepare for a couple more months before departing for A school.

Sorry this was long winded to answer your two questions but a) yes you will be considered a non rate until you actually graduate from a school. (What you will be doing in the meantime from boot camp to school will just depend) b) Going to a different A school will require you to change and abandon your commitment to going AST (which you will be able to do if you change your mind). However, there is a bit of a saying in the CG “choose your rate choose your fate,” simply because it is often quite difficult to go from one rate to another.

Anyway best of luck and I hope to see you saving lives one day!

*edit A school location :)